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Chapter 5
Sustainable Resource Use,
Consumption and Waste
Since 2008, there have been sharp decreases in Ireland in commercial
and household waste volumes, in line with the downturn in consumption
and economic growth. Waste volumes associated with the construction
sector have collapsed by 81% since 2007. Industrial wastes (including
hazardous wastes) are stable, reflecting the relative stability of
manufacturing industry, the main contributor to this waste stream.
Ireland has achieved its EU waste recycling and recovery targets for
waste packaging; for waste electrical and electronic equipment; and
for household waste paper, metals, plastic and glass. Ireland has also
achieved the first target for diversion of biodegradable waste from
landfill as required under the EU Landfill Directive. However, Ireland
has failed to meet the EU re-use and recovery targets for end-of-life
vehicles.
The waste collection sector has changed dramatically in the past
four years, with the majority of local authorities exiting the domestic
waste collection market. Moreover, as of 2012, virtually all households
on a collection service are now offered a two-bin service (dry recyclables
and residual), and 34% of serviced households are offered a three-
bin collection (includes organics bin).
Ireland’s first merchant municipal waste incinerator commenced
operation in 2011, and the use of waste-derived fuels in industrial
energy plants has grown significantly. Fifteen of Ireland’s 28
operational municipal landfills will run out of consented capacity
in three years, and there is only 12 years gross municipal landfill
disposal capacity in the State. Ireland continues to export nearly
half of its hazardous waste for treatment/disposal.
The recently transposed EU Waste Directive will have a profound
influence on waste management practices and policy for the
foreseeable future. In addition, the increasing levy on disposal of
waste to landfill is driving post-consumption management options
up the waste hierarchy towards more sustainable behaviours.